Abstract: Control apparatus for an electrical or electronic device. The apparatus includes a substrate having a surface with a selected contour. A cover lays over the surface of the substrate and conforms to the contour. A touch matrix is sandwiched between the substrate and the cover. At least one fashion button is mounted at the front surface of the cover. Manipulation of the fashion button is detected by the touch matrix.

Abstract: Control apparatus for an electrical or electronic device. The apparatus includes a substrate having a surface with a selected contour. A cover lays over the surface of the substrate and conforms to the contour. A touch matrix is sandwiched between the substrate and the cover. At least one fashion button is mounted at the front surface of the cover. Manipulation of the fashion button is detected by the touch matrix.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wheel and a tire comprising the steps of providing a wheel and molding a tire to the wheel. A mold may be placed over the wheel, such that a cavity is formed between an inner surface of the mold and a rim of the wheel, for receiving material to form the tire, which may be in a liquid form and allowed to solidify in the mold to form a tire attached to the wheel.

Abstract: An integrated user interface has a sensory surface operable to receive a selection signal from a user and send a corresponding command signal within a software system. The integrated user interface has a plurality of tactile features operable to provide a user with tactile feedback corresponding to the selection signal received by the sensory surface when simultaneously selected by the user. A method of integrating the hardware and software functionality for a user interface is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wheel and a tyre comprising the steps of providing a wheel and moulding a tyre to the wheel. A mould may be placed over the wheel, such that a cavity is formed between an inner surface of the mould and a rim of the wheel, for receiving material to form the tyre, which may be in a liquid form and allowed to solidify in the mould to form a tyre attached to the wheel.

Abstract: A system for displaying video data in a vehicle. The system intelligently replicates one or more portable device displays on one or more vehicle displays. Each vehicle display may be shared or dedicated to a specific portable device. The image from each portable device is intelligently replicated and provided to the vehicle integrated video system via a wireless communication link for display. The wireless communication link can provide the image to the vehicle integrated video system in real time to support both static images and dynamic images.

Abstract: A vehicle vent valve assembly (30) is provided to prevent excessive air pressure in a passenger compartment (52) of a vehicle (36). The vent valve assembly (30) includes a vent valve (32) which is movable between a closed condition blocking fluid (air) flow from a passenger compartment of the vehicle and an open condition. An actuator assembly (34) is provided to operate the vent valve (32) from the closed condition to the open condition. The vent valve (32) is urged toward the closed condition by a closing spring (112). A damper (132) is connected with the vent valve (32) to delay closing of the vent valve. A force transmitting member (64) in the actuator assembly (34) is connected with the vent valve (32) by a slide connection (94) that enables relative movement to occur between the vent valve and the force transmitting member.

Abstract: An integrated user interface has a sensory surface operable to receive a selection signal from a user and send a corresponding command signal within a software system. The integrated user interface has a plurality of tactile features operable to provide a user with tactile feedback corresponding to the selection signal received by the sensory surface when simultaneously selected by the user. A method of integrating the hardware and software functionality for a user interface is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process for preparing a pharmaceutically-active extract of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae, specifically, Valeriana officinalis L., is described. This process comprises the steps of adding the roots to an alcoholic extraction solvent to form a mixture, wherein the alcoholic extraction solvent comprises between approximately 50% to approximately 100% (v/v) in a remainder of water, and heating the mixture to a temperature of between approximately 70° C. to approximately 80° C. for a period of at least approximately two hours. By this process valerenic acid is obtained in the extract, and the extract has a content of valepotriates and valepotriate degradation products or derivatives that is substantially reduced with respect to the content of valepotriates in the roots, and has a content of valerenic acids that is not substantially reduced with respect to the content of valerenic acids in the roots.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising extracts of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae, and methods of using such composition and/or extracts of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae to improve sleep quality and sleep efficiency and to improve sleep structure and sleep architecture, are described. Sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep structure and sleep architecture may be in the context of various criteria or parameters, as described herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition that reduces wake after sleep onset, increases total sleep time, increases sleep efficiency, and/or increases sleep time spent in sleep stages three and four, in a normal adult is described, the composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of valerenic acid and its derivatives, kessane derivatives, valeranone, valerenal, and amino acids.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition comprising extracts of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae, and methods of using such composition and/or extracts of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae to improve sleep quality and sleep efficiency and to improve sleep structure and sleep architecture, are described. Sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep structure and sleep architecture may be in the context of various criteria or parameters, as described herein. Specifically, a pharmaceutical composition that reduces wake after sleep onset, increases total sleep time, increases sleep efficiency, and/or increases sleep time spent in sleep stages three and four, in a normal adult is described, the composition comprising therapeutically effective amounts of valerenic acid and its derivatives, kessane derivatives, valeranone, valerenal, and amino acids.

Abstract: A process for preparing a pharmaceutically-active extract of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae, specifically, Valeriana officinalis L., is described. This process comprises the steps of adding the roots to an alcoholic extraction solvent to form a mixture, wherein the alcoholic extraction solvent comprises between approximately 50% to approximately 100% (v/v) in a remainder of water, and heating the mixture to a temperature of between approximately 70° C. to approximately 80° C. for a period of at least approximately two hours. By this process valerenic acid is obtained in the extract, and the extract has a content of valepotriates and valepotriate degradation products or derivatives that is substantially reduced with respect to the content of valepotriates in the roots, and has a content of valerenic acids that is not substantially reduced with respect to the content of valerenic acids in the roots.

Abstract: A process for preparing a pharmaceutically-active extract of the root of a plant of the family Valerianacae, specifically, Valeriana officinalis L., is described. This process comprises the steps of adding the roots to an alcoholic extraction solvent to form a mixture, wherein the alcoholic extraction solvent comprises between approximately 50% to approximately 100% (v/v) in a remainder of water, and heating the mixture to a temperature of between approximately 70° C. to approximately 80° C. for a period of at least approximately two hours. By this process valerenic acid is obtained in the extract, and the extract has a content of valepotriates and valepotriate degradation products or derivatives that is substantially reduced with respect to the content of valepotriates in the roots, and has a content of valerenic acids that is not substantially reduced with respect to the content of valerenic acids in the roots.

Abstract: Users in a centralized document repository system must obtain valid copies of documents from a central server rather than obtaining the documents from another user. Since a valid document must be obtained from the server, the server can control access to the document, in particular by assigning a name to each copy of the document. The name is independent of the content and location of the document, but serves to authenticate the document and its lineage. In one embodiment, users must log onto the server and are assigned user specific authcodes that are used in a document name to identify a user who created or modified a document. In another embodiment, the server controls version numbers that are part of a document name and serve to indicate the version or copy of the document. In still other embodiments, users may enter information that becomes part of a document name.